.
.
.
“So, basically, the ‘goddess’ was some powerful light mage with a fondness for extreme violence, and people revered her as a deity since she managed to beat the tar out of all those big shots up top. Am I getting it right, boss?”
“... Don’t say that near the priesthood’s earshot or it would be you who gets beaten to a pulp, Joe.”
“I’ll be mindful. Still, what’s the difference between this ‘goddess’ and the first emperor, then? Given how the latter managed to become just as overpowered, why wasn’t he put on the same pedestal?”
“Art thee truly so daft, minion? Then again, an unfav'r'd such as yourself hast nay aura to speaketh of, so t seemeth t hast fallen onto mine own gentle self to enlighten someone as po'r in senses~”
“Would have appreciated it more without the extra insults, Fieri.”
“That’s mistress Fieri to thee, knave! Hmph, truly some lessons in wisdom wouldst doth thee well, so beest grateful!”
“Of course, of course... You know what? As a show of repentance, will an offering of snack and ice-cream be to your liking?”
“Giveth me the extra sweet ones and I might consid'r t!!!”
“Heh, too easy.”
.
.
.
[ | | ]
Had you ever been in a near-death experience?
It was well-known that our perception of time seemed to slow down whenever the brain thought our body was in mortal danger. Fight or flight situations – especially ones involving a grave threat – usually made the mind go into hyper-focus mode, which certainly sounded cool…
... Except for when you were being strangled in place, with death hanging over your head and no way to influence the outcome, or course.
Times like these, when one could do nothing but painstakingly await whatever side the coin of fate might land on, was the worst.
Memories flooded the mind. Thoughts of what ifs and whatnot plagued every waking moment. Regrets about how much better one could have done, should have done refused to cease! And yet...!
*Thump*Thump*thump*
... Funnily enough, even though both of my eyes still closed in fear, such helplessness somehow brought about a strange calmness within me.
Angry shouts had long turned into incoherent static, before becoming just another echo in the background.
Soon, my fate would be decided.
[ | | ]
.
.
.
“Hmph! Yond aside, wh're wast I? Ah, yes… Behold, mine own pops, whose strength none wouldst deny. If 't be true thou art half as exp'rienced, thee couldst easily projecteth thy life f'rce onto the physical w'rld, cov'ring thy entire corse in aura 'r simply coating thy gears with a similar toughness.”
*Shinggg*
“Yet, the art of aura nev'r ceases to amaze. Those most adept wouldst unlocketh something known as the mind’s eye, letting those folk p'rceive the beauty of nature nearby – 'r senseth dang'rs unseen by one’s nak'd eyes.”
*Hummm*
“Thee has't exp'rienc'd t firsthand, haven't thee? At which hour pops first encount'r'd thee, t wast thy completeth want of aura yond madeth that gent taketh pity on thee. Forsooth, I eke couldn't holp but weepeth f'r unfav'r'd souls such as yourself - the living c'rpses curs'd to wand'r the realm, f'rev'r barr'd from the beauty this magical w'rld hast to off'r…”
“Less theatrics, please.”
“HMPH! Such impudence… Yond aside, tryeth to not faint from THIS.”
“Gulp…”
“Can thee feeleth t? The way mine own draconic aura TERRIFIES thee to thy v'ry c're. This is what separates high'r beings from m're m'rtals, f'r the might of their presence not only surpasses the boundary of a physical realm but pi'rces beyond the mental w'rld itself. Thus, it’s only natural yond less'r races couldn’t holp but boweth down to ev'ry w'rd sung by elven lips… 'r cow'r in feareth ev'ry timeth an almighty dragon so much as breatheth.”
This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.
*GRRR*
“Yond aside, much as I misprise to admiteth, this fearsome pow'r of mineth still hast its owneth imp'rfection, f'r t can only beest hath used by me and me high-lone. Doth thee und'rstand? Such is the diff'rence between high'r beings and the divine, f'r only the latt'r wouldst beest able to bestow the boons of their aura onto oth'rs as well.”
“You’re talking about the goddess and her miracles, right?”
“C'rrect, though thee shouldst keepeth in mind yond miracles in this 'ra art nothing but a whey-face imitation of the blessings h'roes from ages longeth past couldst receive… Or at least that’s what mine own progenit'rs once toldeth me. Those dead fossils eke claim'd yond humans evolv'd from monkeys and dragons hath used to beest big chickens, so… uh… yeah…”
.
.
.
[ | | ]
Hope, doubt, fear, relief... With every agonizing second that passed by, the executioner’s blade simply grew ever more intriguing – if only because it would bring an end to this terrible suspense.
That said...
What would happen if this gamble of mine were to fail?
Without a true mary sue and gary stu to save the day, could anyone even hope to survive those horrors looming over the horizon?
... Should I even care?
My head would be rolling by then, and it simply wouldn’t be my problem at that point.
[ | | ]
.
.
.
“… What about cultivators from beyond the dungeons, then? A lot of adventurers seem to claim that the Jaded Empire is filled to the brim with demigods, so are they also higher-”
“Bah!!! Thee knoweth NOTHING, bringing up yond bunch of arrogant addicts! Those blast'd outw'rld'rs don’t des'rve the tittles so lavishly gift'd upon themselves… AND I SHALL RIP ALL LIMB FROM LIMB IF ‘T BE TRUE SUCH MONST’RS SO MUCH AS STEPETH ONTO THIS REALM AGAIN-”
“Fieri. Enough. Joe will pass out if you keep this up.”
“th…a…nks.. bos…s… appreciated…”
“… Apologies f'r the outburst. I… I shall wend receiveth some green air.”
.
.
.
“Well? Have you been able to verify anything yet?”
“My scouts have indeed found traces of the outworlders you so fret about in newly-formed dungeons. Yet, I fail to see the merit of such a fruitless task. Countless leeches and flunkeys would die just to earn my favor, so why are you squandering such on this sudden paranoia of yours, my dear henchman?”
“… Paranoia? Are you freaking kidding me right now!? You have heard what happened from people fleeing the east, right? Their kingdom is as good as gone, crushed by cultivators from the other side! Need I remind you what those monsters are capable of!?”
“Cutting the oceans open with a single slash of the sword. Smashing mountains apart using naught but the strength of their own two hands. Calling upon elemental wrath that could shatter the land to bits and pieces... Or, in other words, nothing that the fighters of this world haven’t already achieved. Is this truly the “threat” that scares you, when eternal darkness is creeping ever closer while boogeymen and banshes now roam the wilderness in droves?”
“It took the first emperor to drive them off! And that was when their power already got severely weakened by crossing through the dungeons! Have you not heard of how these bunch are getting stronger as the dungeons grow shorter in height? What would happen when a dungeon spawns with only one single floor? Are you going to wait and see if those appearing from the other side could truly throw around space and time before deciding to act!?”
“Enough. Your drivel amuses me, but not your naivety. This audience is over. Begone, before my patience runs dry.”
“So be it… I hope you will remember the warning I have given this day, shadow lord…”
.
.
.
“Gahhh! Who are you? Stay back! I bite good!!!”
“Y… ye… yeah! Stay back! Or… or she bites you!”
“I throw mud! Eat mud, ugly!!!”
*Splash*
“Well… I certainly didn’t expect this to be how our first meeting goes, but I suppose an adventurer team with the name Underdogs would be anything but ordinary... That said, I did bring you three a delicious offering~ So, truce?”
“Offering!?”
“F… food?”
“Is that… Is that cake I smell!? You’re not lying, are you!?”
“Not at all my newfound friends, the cake is certainly not a lie… Now, how about we have a little chat while enjoying this tasty treat? You can call me Joe, by the way, and I hope that I will be able to know your names as well.”
.
.
.
“War hawk, can me ask question?”
“Sure thing, D’a W’eenes. Go ahead.”
“Pack been wondering, why haven’t fought. Many itch for war you promised. More claimed you lied… said you let thralls go free, is soft…”
“…”
“… Some scheme, cut your head off… said will cut me head off if can’t get war from you too.”
“Well, shit… Is it that berserker fella… whatshisname… C’as S’andatruth?”
“C’as S’andatru, war hawk. He claimed you no First Eagle reborn, no savior, will bring death and doom to all.”
“I see… Alright, thanks for telling me this, D’a W’eenes. I’ll make sure to deal with it.”
“War hawk, please know that. No matter what, me loyal, always!”
“Yes, yes. I’ll make sure to reward your loyalty well. You did make me war hawk for that reason alone, after all…”
“Me is happy! Hug!!!”
“Oh crap wait wait WAIT-”
*CRUNCH*
.
.
.
[ | | ]
I could feel it.
All at once, frivolous thoughts and lingering memories ceased, blown away by the rushing wind as my captor finally delivered the death sentence, brandishing claws sharp enough to slice my neck clean.
This was it.
.
..
...
Well, would you look at that...
Slowly, carefully, I opened my eyes.
And what a sight it was.
... They did it, huh?
Perhaps I was saying such thoughts out loud, perhaps not.
Perhaps Mary Stew and Garu Stool both crashed into me with a hug, crying all the while.
Perhaps the entire crowd was rendered speechless upon witnessing the ascension of not one, but two demigods.
Yet, despite the fuzzy haze that refused to leave my mind, one thought stood out above all.
Finally.
That loose end is no more...
The lifeless body of a lionkin - whose name sounded suspiciously like Cassandra Truth - laid broken, and I simply couldn’t stop a smirk from forming on my lips.